AbdiesusmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Means "servant of Jesus" from Arabic عبد ('abd) meaning "servant" combined with Iesus. This was the name of multiple Persian saints.
AberkiosmAncient Greek, History (Ecclesiastical) Of unknown origin and meaning. This name was borne by a 2nd-century saint of Phrygia in Asia Minor, a bishop and wonderworker of Hieropolis who is the subject (and probable author) of an early Christian inscription.
AbiathafHistory (Ecclesiastical) Abiatha, Hathes, and Mamlacha were virgins and martyrs of the Beth-Garma province of Syria.
AbibusmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Latinized form of Ἄβιβος (Abibos) or (Habibos), which is also found written as Ἄββιβος (Abbibos) or (Habbibos). It is a hellenization of the Hebrew name Aviv, and not of the Arabic name Habib, which most people would think at first glance.... [more]
AceolusmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Saint Aceolus of Amiens worked as a sub-deacon who was studying for the priesthood when he was arrested and murdered as part of the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian in 303 near Amiens, France.
AchillasmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Bishop and theologian who lived in an era of dispute in the Church. Achillas was the bishop of Alexandria, Egypt, one of the most powerful cities in the world at the time. Succeeding as bishop a man named St... [more]
AdalgottmRomansh, History (Ecclesiastical) Romansh form of Adalgod. This was the name of Saint Adalgott II of Disentis (died 1165), a 12th-century monk and bishop. His feast day is celebrated on 3 October.
AdamantinifGreek, History (Ecclesiastical) Feminine derivative of Adamantios. This was the name of a Thracian saint, also known as Adamantia, who was martyred during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian in the early 4th century.
AdelphusmLate Roman, History (Ecclesiastical) Derived from Greek ἀδελφός (adelphós) "brother" (literally "from the same womb", from the copulative prefix a- "together with" and delphys "womb"). Adelphus was a bishop of Metz, France, who is now venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.
AdjutormHistory (Ecclesiastical) Means "helper" in Latin. Adjutor is the patron saint of swimmers, boaters, and drowning victims, as well as of Vernon, France.
AdomnánmOld Irish, History (Ecclesiastical) Old Irish diminutive of Adam. Saint Adomnán was the ninth abbot of Iona Abbey, considered one of the most significant churchmen and intellectuals of the seventh century.
AdonmHistory (Ecclesiastical) French form of Ado. Adon de Vienne (known as Ado of Vienne in English) was archbishop of Vienne in Lotharingia from 850 until his death and is venerated as a saint... [more]
AedesiusmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Martyr and brother of St. Apphian. Aedesius, a Christian of some note in Caesarea, now part of modern Israel, witnessed the persecution of Christians, the result of Emperor Diocletian's policies... [more]
AetheriusmHistory (Ecclesiastical), Medieval French (Latinized, ?) This name was borne by multiple saints: Saint Aetherius of Nicomedia (died 304), who was martyred during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian; Saint Aetherius the Martyr (4th century), a missionary bishop who evangelized in the Crimea and southern Russia and was also martyred; Saint Aetherius of Auxerre (6th century), a bishop of Auxerre, France; Saint Etherius of Lyons (died 602), a bishop of Lyons, France; and Saint Aetherius of Vienne (7th century), a bishop of Vienne, France.
AfreliafHistory (Ecclesiastical) Afrelia was a late 6th century saint, and princess of Powys. It has been suggested that she may be identical to the little-known Saint Arilda of Gloucester.
AgapitusmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Martyr in the reign of Emperor Aurelian. Buried in Palestrina, in Italy, Agapitus is traditionally identified as a fifteen-year old caught in the persecutions of the Christians in Antioch. He was brought before the governor when he announced his faith... [more]
AgathonikefLate Greek, History (Ecclesiastical) Feminine form of Agathonikos. This name was borne by an early Christian saint from Thyatira, who was either martyred with her brother Papylus and a companion named Carpus, or committed suicide after Carpus and Papylus were tortured and sacrificed by pagans.
AgobardmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Agobard of Lyon (c. 779–840) was a Spanish-born priest and archbishop of Lyon, during the Carolingian Renaissance. The author of multiple treatises, ranging in subject matter from the iconoclast controversy to Spanish Adoptionism to critiques of the Carolingian royal family, Agobard is best known for his critiques of Jewish religious practices and political power in the Frankish-Carolingian realm... [more]
AignanmFrench (Rare), History (Ecclesiastical) French form of Anianus. Saint Aignan (358–453) was Bishop of Orléans, France, and assisted Roman general Flavius Aetius in the defense of the city against Attila the Hun in 451.
AkepsimasmHistory (Ecclesiastical) The origin and meaning of this name are uncertain; it is a hellenized form of some name, which was perhaps of Middle Persian origin. This was the name of a 4th-century Christian saint and martyr, a bishop of Hnaita in western Persia who was tortured to death in 376.
AllyremFrench (Rare, Archaic), History (Ecclesiastical) Possibly of Germanic origin. This was the name of a 4th-century Gallo-Roman saint praised by Gregory of Tours. Also known as Illidius, he was a bishop of Clermont in Auvergne, France, which he worked to establish as a center of religious teaching and devotion... [more]
AlphonsafHistory (Ecclesiastical) Feminine form of Alphonsus (see Alfonso). Saint Alphonsa (1910-1946) adopted this as a monastic name in honour of Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787).
AnnemundmHistory (Ecclesiastical) From the Germanic name Aunemund, in which the second element is mund "protection". Saint Annemund was a 7th-century archbishop of Lyon; Queen Balthild had him assassinated, according to Bede.
AnthiafHistory (Ecclesiastical), Literature Possibly a variant of Anthea. This name was borne by a 2nd-century Illyrian saint who was martyred with her son Eleutherius during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Hadrian... [more]
AnysiafGreek (Rare), History (Ecclesiastical) Said to mean "fulfillment, completion" in Greek, from άνύω (anuo) "to accomplish or complete". Saint Anysia of Salonika was a Christian virgin and martyr of the 4th century.
ApphianmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Aphian (Apphian, Apian, Appian, Amphianus, Amphian; Amfiano in Spanish and Italian) is venerated as a martyr by the Catholic Church and by the Eastern Orthodox Church. He is said to have died during the persecutions of the Emperor Galerius on April 2 in or around the year 305.
ArdanmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Benedictine monk, also known as Ardanus. 13th abbot of the abbey of Saint Philibert at Tournus, diocese of Autun, France in 1028. Restored monastic buildings there, and cared for the local people during the famine of 1030 to 1033.
ArethasmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Arethas was the leader of the Christian community of Najran in the early 6th century; he was executed during the persecution of Christians by the Jewish king Dhu Nuwas in 523.
AstimHistory (Ecclesiastical), Albanian Asti is a 2nd-century Christian martyr venerated by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. He was the bishop of Dyrrhachium (now Durrës in Albania). According to legend, he was arrested by Agricola, the Roman governor of Dyrrachium, and was tortured to death around 98 AD for refusing to worship the god Dionysius.
AstionmLate Greek, History (Ecclesiastical) Means "small city" in Greek, derived from Greek ἄστυ (astu) or (asty) "city, town" combined with the Greek diminutive suffix -ιων (-ion), this is also the Georgian and Romanian form of this name... [more]
AstiusmHistory (Ecclesiastical), Illyrian There was an early Christian saint by this name, a 2nd-century Illyrian martyr. He was a bishop of Dyrrhachium (now Durrës in Albania).
AttractafIrish, Medieval Irish (Latinized), History (Ecclesiastical) Latinized form of the Gaelic name Athracht, which is of uncertain meaning. The Latinization was perhaps influenced by attractus "attracted". This was the name of a 6th-century Irish saint who was known as a healer and miracle worker.
AudifaxmHistory (Ecclesiastical) The best-known (and possibly the first) bearer of this name is saint Audifax, who was of noble descent and born in the Persian Empire. Somewhere between 268 and 270 AD, he went on a pilgrimage to Rome with his parents and brother, whose names were Marius, Martha and Abachum (also known as Habakkuk)... [more]
BenvenutafMedieval Italian, Romansh, History (Ecclesiastical) Feminine form of Benvenuto. Benvenuta Bojani (1254 - 1292) was an Italian Roman Catholic professed member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic. She dedicated her life to strict austerities as an act of repentance and devotion to God and was known to have visions of angels and demons... [more]
BirillusmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Saint Birillus of Antioch was the first evangelizer and the first bishop of Catania in Sicily.
BlaesillafHistory (Ecclesiastical) Feminine diminutive of Blaesus. Blaesilla (364–384) was a Roman widow and disciple of Jerome. Most of the knowledge about Blaesilla's life comes from the writings of Jerome, in which he described her piety and virtue... [more]
BoisilmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Saint Boisil (died 661) was a monk of Melrose Abbey, an offshoot of Lindisfarne, then in the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria, but now in Scotland, where he must have been one of the first generation of monks.
BrannockmHistory (Ecclesiastical) The name of the eponymous saint of the village of Braunton in Devon, England. Saint Brannock (or Brannoc) is said to have originated from South Wales and established a monastery at Braunton in the 6th century... [more]
BriocmHistory (Ecclesiastical), Guernésiais English and Guernésiais form of Briog via the Latinization Briocus. Brioc (died c. 502) was a 5th-century Welsh holy man who became the first abbot of Saint-Brieuc in Brittany... [more]
BriogmBreton, Welsh, History (Ecclesiastical) Derived from Breton and Middle Welsh bri, ultimately from Proto-Celtic *brigo "high, noble" or *brīgos "importance". Briog (died c. 502) was a 5th-century Welsh holy man who became the first abbot of Saint-Brieuc in Brittany... [more]
BruinsechfHistory (Ecclesiastical) The name of an Irish saint, listed in the 17th-century Martyrology of Donegal under May 29: 'Bruinsech Cael (the slender), Virgin, daughter of Crimthann of Mag Trea'. She has been identified with Buriana, an Irish saint who traveled to Cornwall.
BudocmHistory (Ecclesiastical), Breton Legend Derived from Old Celtic boudi "victory". However, folk etymology likes to associate this name with beuziñ meaning "drown", with the intended meaning of "saved from the waters". In Breton legend this is the name of a 6th century saint, son of Azenor.
BurgundofarafGermanic, History (Ecclesiastical) Name meaning "bringer of the Burgundians" by using the Greek φόρος, "bearer". This was the name of a Burgundian saint and abbess of the 7th century in what is now France.
BurianafHistory (Ecclesiastical, Latinized) This was the name of an Irish saint who lived during the 6th-century, a hermit in St Buryan, near Penzance, Cornwall. She is identified with the Irish Saint Bruinsech.
CælinmHistory (Ecclesiastical) Cælin was an Orthodox priest in England in the seventh century, and brother of St. Cedd of Lastingham. The name Cælin is a spelling variant of the name of a West Saxon king Ceawlin, and is of Celtic rather than Anglo-Saxon derivation.
CaesariafLate Roman, History (Ecclesiastical) Feminine form of Caesarius. Caesaria of Arles (also called Caesaria the Elder, died c. 530), was a saint and abbess. She was born in a Gallo-Roman family and was trained at John Cassian's foundation in Marseilles.
CelerinusmLate Roman, History (Ecclesiastical) Derived from the Latin word celer, meaning "quick, swift", followed by the masculine diminutive suffix -inus. This was the name of an African martyr, revered for his suffering while imprisoned by Emperor TrajanDecius in Rome... [more]
CeolfriðmAnglo-Saxon, History (Ecclesiastical) Derived from the Old English elements ceol "keel (of a ship)" and friþ "peace". This name was borne by an Anglo-Saxon Christian abbot and saint, and also gave rise to the surnames Chilvers and Chorlton, and the place name Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester.
CharitinafAncient Greek (Latinized), History (Ecclesiastical) Latinized form of Charitine. St. Charitina of Amisus (also known as Charitina of Rome) was a virgin martyr from Asia Minor, distinguished by strict chastity and piety, while Charitina of Lithuania (died 1281) is a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.